She is so ugly! Needs shock treatment!

[Discrimination Dave]

I finally found and old coin here in Japan. I recognize the coin, and even have an idea on the age, but as usual, this soil screws up all the coins! I had to go down to the hardware shop and buy a battery charger so i can try electrolysis on her. She is copper.
A standard battery charger that would normally cost 50 or 60 bucks in the states was 300 dollars here!
I bought the bottom end, hope it works.
Also, i don't have any access to "soda detergent", so i will just use baking soda.
Im including a picture of the coin as well as an interesting button that i found.
Any advise on my first go at electrolosis would be GREATLY appreciated!
Thank you all in advance.
By the way these came from an OLD park nearby with big trees. both were found at about 6-7 inches.
I am so happy to find something other than a pull tab as spring approaches. I'm hyped!
oledavy

 

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[Bavaria Mike]

Nice button! No help on the coin, is it zinc? If it is zinc then it is gone but, if another metal you could try the hydrogen peroxide cleaning method to get that crusty patina off. HH, Mike

 

[CRUSADER]

Looks Asian (Indian) to me

 

[hikeinmts]

The coin is a Japanese coin, called a Palomina (spelling is probably wrong.) There were two different series of this coin.
First was TaiSho, which went from 1915 (yr 4) to 1928 (could be wrong on this one.) The second series was Sho Wa, which went from 1929 to 1938. The first 2 or 3 years of each series are a little more valuable then the others. But, even in UNCIRCULATED condition, a person can get them for about $25.00. So, don't be afraid to do whatever you want to with that coin....it will be a good coin to experiment on.
I live in S. Korea, and this type of Japanese coin is the most common Japanese coin in S. Korea, as Korea was occupied by the Japanese from 1910 - 1945, and one of the bits of that occupation was that the Koreans had to use Japanese coins.
Let me know if you get any of the date or info on the coin to come out. I, too, have a bunch that needs some work.

How are the Japanese reacting to you using a detector in their parks? Have you done any beach hunting? My son is living in Makuhari, about midway between Tokyo and Narita Int'l Airport. And he and his oldest son want to find some places to do some metal detecting.

Good luck in your hunting.

 

[BuckleBoy]

If the coin is copper, you could try the peroxide method (see the post on "cleaning large cents" in the cleaning and preservation section.

 

[rmptr]

I think, instead of going to that big expense of a battery charger, you could have used a throw-away cell phone charger for the rate of electrolysis you need for a coin.

...and that's going to eat it up, because your pic shows how the interior of the coin is already 'blowing out'.

The dip methods would probably work better...

Good luck!
rmptr

 

[Discrimination Dave]

Thanks BB,
I jumped the gun a little on the electrolysis idea. I didnt realize that was really only for ferrous metals. I've been soaking the copper in peroxide for a couple of hours now and she looks better already.
Thanks Hike,
I know the coin, I go through Japanese redbooks almost as fast as they can print them.
As for hunting in japan, I haven't had any problems yet!. Tell your son to get on up here to Osaka and we'll teach him how to drink sake! and find pull tabs!

 

[sniffer]

heat your peroxide up in the microwave, it works a whole lot quicker.
I'm with rmptr, don't use a battery charger, I use a cell phone charger with 750 milliamp output, works great

 

[Discrimination Dave]

Interesting, Sniff!
I do have an old cell phone charger laying around.
Tell me, does electrolysis only work on iron?
Also, how bout your brine? Just salt water and lemon juice?
What do you think?

 

[sniffer]

if it is a ferrous metal (magnetic) it'll work.
I also throw in a little baking soda
Just make sure you use a big enough piece of stainless, I use a 3/8 stainless bolt from Lowe's.
and don't let your stainless touch what you're trying to clean

 

[Discrimination Dave]

Thanks dude!
I understand

 

[RELICDUDE07]

Cut the end off the cell phone charger and buy some stainless clips,it works great on things that the peroxide does nothing....I have found some old spanish cobs by the salt water and they are very hard to clean,the small set up works good on alot of things... A pic of my cheap set up..I use a clear glass to see and watch the coins...

 

[terpfan]

Cut the end off the cell phone charger and buy some stainless clips,it works great on things that the peroxide does nothing....I have found some old spanish cobs by the salt water and they are very hard to clean,the small set up works good on alot of things... A pic of my cheap set up..I use a clear glass to see and watch the coins...

Great photo!

 

[sniffer]

are you sure you're not using coca-cola? LOL

 

[Discrimination Dave]

Thanks for the photo Relicdude!
That photo is GREAT!

 

[Discrimination Dave]

Hey Sniff,
I heated up the peroxide and that copper is bubbling like my Mom after two Margaritas!

 

[sniffer]

just make sure you rinse it well after you're done

 

[RELICDUDE07]

are you sure you're not using coca-cola? LOL It was mountain dew,and nice and clean when i started Hey the way i look at it,it is your finds and you can do whatever you want with them..May not always be the right thing but you never know unless you try.....

 

[sniffer]

the only way to find out new ways of cleaning is to try it and find out

how's Japan/

 

[sniffer]

I've seen posts by some others that were stationed in Japan, and it always seemed like that had some pretty great finds